Written by

Candace Buckner

The Indianapolis Star

INDIANAPOLIS — Every time Evan Turner visited Bankers Life Fieldhouse as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, he would be reminded of “The Shot.”

“The guys at the scorer’s table,” Turner said, “they always bring it up. ‘That’s where you hit the shot!’”

Turner once ruled this court as an Ohio State superstar, shining in the 2010 Big Ten tournament. On Tuesday, Turner made his Indiana Pacers debut at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“It’s definitely cool to play here and now to play here night in and night out with great fans,” Turner said. “So I look forward to that.”

In the March 12, 2010, quarterfinal game against Michigan, No. 7 Ohio State trailed 68-66 with only 2.2 seconds remaining. Then Turner took the inbounds pass, dribbled twice and pulled up from 37 feet — approximately where the words “Bankers Life Fieldhouse” normally would appear on the court — for the improbable winning shot.

“Back in the day, yeah!” Turner said Tuesday, recalling the memory. “That was one of the best weekends of basketball I’ve ever played. Besides the whole shot, my teammates and I were able to win that tournament and I was able to do some cool things.”

Turner already had credentials as the Wooden Award winner and Associated Press Player of the Year, but that March Madness moment only helped his stock as an NBA player. Later that year, the 76ers drafted Turner with the No. 2 pick. “The Shot” lived on whenever Philadelphia made a trip to Indianapolis.

“I usually only do it when people ask, to see if I can make it,” Turner said. “Hopefully, I’ll save all those makes for the real game.”